Decision and Despair

# Chapter 27: Decision and Determination

Six hours later, warm firelight flickered within a natural cave.

Jiang Xiao, his clothes tattered, watched the flames gradually extinguish on Xia Yan's right hand, having truly witnessed something new.

There were countless wilderness survival techniques, but due to the existence of Star Skills, Awakened individuals could survive much more easily.

For instance, right now, Jiang Xiao watched wide-eyed as Xia Yan plunged her right hand into a pile of branches, without any kindling, and slowly ignited the campfire.

During these six hours of travel, the two had encountered over a dozen White Ghosts, and without exception, Jiang Xiao had been defeated.

Jiang Xiao's greatest success was simply that he had survived. His military uniform, which had been neat and tidy in the morning, was now torn beyond recognition. Compared to when they had set out, the atmosphere was now heavy with tension, and the two hadn't spoken for a long time.

Xia Yan removed her greatsword, leaned against the cave wall, and crouched by the campfire, quietly warming herself.

The flickering firelight cast shadows across her heroic features, adding a touch of allure to her silhouette.

Jiang Xiao thought for a moment, then opened his marching pack, took out some tools, poured mineral water into a pot, and tried to arrange the campfire, finding a suitable angle to set up the pot.

As someone who had always lived in the city, Jiang Xiao had no wilderness survival skills either; everything required him to figure it out on his own.

"You're improving quickly. Maybe I've been too harsh on you, expecting too much. After all, you only became an Awakened a week ago." Xia Yan suddenly spoke, her words carrying a hint of encouragement and a touch of self-consolation.

Jiang Xiao didn't respond. He simply took out some biscuits, handed them to Xia Yan, then opened his inner star map to check his status.

The past six hours, for Jiang Xiao, felt like a trip through hell.

In this snowy forest, Jiang Xiao's movement was severely restricted, while the White Ghosts were in their home territory. Combined with their natural agility, this gave Jiang Xiao no end of trouble.

But faced with this situation, Xia Yan said nothing. She simply rescued Jiang Xiao time and again, and watched time and again as he struggled against the White Ghosts.

Jiang Xiao even thought he should buy a few guns on the black market. At least when dealing with low-level creatures like these, firearms should be quite effective.

Under Xia Yan's miraculous protection and Jiang Xiao's own "Blessing" skill, his wounds were nothing serious, and his physical condition remained decent. But he was keenly aware that he had no capital to hunt.

Yet under Xia Yan's forceful demands, he still charged at the White Ghosts again and again.

Weak, Helpless, Yet so recklessly arrogant.

Jiang Xiao had harvested a total of four White Ghost Star Beads. Since the two couldn't find a suitable place to settle down, and battle could break out at any moment, Jiang Xiao had also absorbed all four White Ghost Star Beads.

And when they had come here, he still had three unabsorbed White Ghost Star Beads on him.

Now, Jiang Xiao's second star slot skills, "Green Glow" and "Endurance," had both reached Bronze Quality Lv.9.

Upgrading their quality was only a matter of time.

The White Ghost Witch Star Bead had also been absorbed after an exhausting battle, and Jiang Xiao's inner star map had undergone earth-shaking changes.

Character: Jiang Xiao.

I. Star Chart: Big Dipper Nine Stars, Star Dust Stage Lv.3.

II. Star Skills:

1, Blessing, Bronze Quality Lv.2.

2, Decoy, Bronze Quality Lv.2.

3, Green Glow, Bronze Quality Lv.9.

4, Endurance, Bronze Quality Lv.9.

III. Basic Skills:

1, Barehanded Combat, Bronze Quality Lv.6.

2, Abundant Star Power, Bronze Quality Lv.2.

3, Dagger Proficiency, Bronze Quality Lv.1.

IV. Skill Points: 3.

Yes, although Jiang Xiao's total star power hadn't changed at all, his "Green Glow" and "Endurance" had reached Bronze Quality Lv.9, and in these short six hours, his Barehanded Combat had also risen one level, reaching Bronze Quality Lv.6.

What surprised Jiang Xiao even more was that in the third section of Basic Skills, he had unlocked a new skill on his own: Dagger Proficiency.

Jiang Xiao, with his unorthodox methods, didn't know how to use a dagger at all. He had only held the dagger in a reverse grip while engaging in unarmed combat with the White Ghosts, and eventually found the dagger too troublesome and put it back in his marching pack.

"There's a boy who's been pestering your sister." Xia Yan took the marching pack, pulled out a military canteen, and spoke as if to herself. "He's decently strong, a close-combat Awakened, but his character is poor, very selfish. Last time, when we represented First Middle School in a competition, in the Different Dimension World, he almost got another one of our teammates killed."

"Hm?" Jiang Xiao opened his eyes. His concern for Han Jiangxue had truly been too little.

"Our team has already split, but both sides come from good families, so everyone's saving face. Han Jiangxue and I became the sacrifices of the struggle." Xia Yan wrapped a towel around her hand, picked up the hot little pot, and poured water into the military canteen.

"If your strength were just a little greater, as a precious Medical Awakened, from a team-building perspective, you'd be qualified to replace one person on our team." Xia Yan said softly. "Forgive me for being a bit impatient."

"Mm." Jiang Xiao tightened his torn clothes, sat on the cold ground, and around his body, specks of starlight slowly streamed into him.

"I've already prepared to leave this team with Han Jiangxue. As for the cost of leaving..." Xia Yan sighed quietly. "Honor, rewards of high-quality star beads, admission slots to higher academies, our future path—everything will change."

"It's hard for Xiaoxue and me to find two other decently skilled classmates at school. Every team has grown together tacitly for two years, about to enter the third year. Unless there's a major upheaval, few teams are willing to break up, even if it means they could latch onto big shots like me and Han Jiangxue."

"Of course, when I say people, I mean top-tier team members, not those ordinary ones. Those guys would probably be overjoyed to come find us." Xia Yan laughed self-deprecatingly and continued, "I hope to preserve the team as much as possible, keep one other teammate, and have you replace that boy as a dark horse."

"The school will give face to the family, but if the stakes involve the rankings of the entire Beijiang Province, or even the whole country's middle schools, that boy's family background doesn't carry that much face. I hope you can grow up quickly—I've already sent my family to find you a high-quality medical-type star bead." Xia Yan took a small sip of hot water and spoke softly.

Seeing Jiang Xiao unmoved, Xia Yan was silent for a long moment before continuing, "That boy, ever since he broke up with his ex-girlfriend a year ago, has been pursuing your sister. Some of his methods are despicable. I've held him off for a year, but I don't know how much longer I can. People, after all, have their limits."

Jiang Xiao suddenly opened his eyes and asked, "What's his name?"

A smile bloomed on Xia Yan's face. "Walk out of the Snowfield alive, and I'll tell you."

With that, Xia Yan slowly set down her canteen. "If you can't make it out, I'll resolutely take your sister and withdraw from the team."

Jiang Xiao was slightly taken aback. "Do you have to put it so harshly?"

In the glow of the firelight, Xia Yan's beautiful eyes flickered with shadow and light, her smile blossoming like a flower. "My resolve is even harsher."